Paragon China Commemorative plate ‘H.M.A.S Sydney’ BRAVO AUSTRALIA WWI 1914

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WWI commemorative plate, with hand-coloured print of HMS Sydney and a portrait of Captain John Glossop, titled “BRAVO AUSTRALIA”

Inscribed:

“Captain John C.T. Glossop of H.M.A.S Sydney who destroyed the Enden”

“BRAVO AUSTRALIA”

“The ship which destroyed the ‘Enden'”

Mark ‘Allied Navies Series, Paragon China England / Registration Applied for’

16cm

Circa 1920

Condition; Minor signs of age, 2 small ‘bald patches’ where glaze was missed on reverse rim, displays well.

These commemoratives for ‘H.M.A.S. SYDNEY (I) relate to one of Australia’s iconic stories; a light cruiser built in 1912, it was a formidable piece of technology in WWI which became a legend when it destroyed the German cruiser Emden in what is remembered as ‘Australia’s first victory at sea’.
The Emden had been sulking around South-East Asia causing major problems for the Allies, in a short time sinking or capturing 25 allied steamers, a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer. A dozen Allied warships were tied up in the region searching for a German battleship; the Germans had added an extra funnel to the Emden, and were masquerading as an Allied ship! Their next target was the station in the Cocos Islands, housing the all-important cable that connected the Pacific – and Australia- to Europe. On the 9th November, 1914, the Sydney came across the Emden, and successfully pounded it into submission.

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